Seattle, Washington – Facepunch Studios, the developers of the popular sandbox game Garry’s Mod, are currently facing challenges as they work to remove nearly two decades’ worth of Nintendo-related content from the game. This action comes after Nintendo issued takedown notices for specific workshop items related to their intellectual property. This move has left the gaming community surprised, considering that Nintendo content has been integrated into Garry’s Mod for close to 20 years.
In a recent update on the Steam page for Garry’s Mod, the developers acknowledged the takedowns, stating that it was a decision made by Nintendo and that they were in the process of complying with the requests. Despite the long-standing presence of Nintendo-themed content in the game, Nintendo’s enforcement of their rights has prompted Facepunch Studios to take action.
The removal of Nintendo-related add-ons from Garry’s Mod has been ongoing for several months, although Facepunch Studios only publicly addressed the issue recently. The magnitude of content that needs to be removed poses a significant challenge for the developers, with the process described as Herculean.
The flexibility of the Source engine in Garry’s Mod has been a key factor in the game’s appeal, particularly among gamers who enjoy multiplayer social-deduction games like Prop Hunt and Trouble In Terrorist Town. However, the leniency in allowing various types of content on the platform has led to Nintendo’s intervention after years of hosting their intellectual property in the game.
As Facepunch Studios continues to work on removing the Nintendo-related content, they humorously suggest that users can assist by deleting any uploads related to Nintendo and refraining from uploading them again in the future. This situation highlights the complexities of navigating intellectual property rights in the gaming industry, especially when it involves established brands like Nintendo and popular games like Garry’s Mod.